Italy CT Roberto Mancini admits Serie A clubs don’t rely much on Italian players: ‘We have to find solutions…’
Mancio met the media on Wednesday after an event to present a commercial FIGC partnership in Rome.
All four Serie A clubs in Europa and Conference League have qualified for the Round of 16, while Inter, Milan and Napoli won the first leg in the same stage of the Champions League.
“The teams are Italians, but there aren’t too many Italian players. That’s the problem,” said Mancini as quoted by Sportmediaset.
“I hope they [Italian players] will get more and more playing time. In the meantime we have to find solutins, but we are happy that Serie A clubs are going ahead in Europe, because the time has come to win more trophies.
“We have regained enthusiasm, but our target is not only to win the Nations League in June. We want to give our all in every competition and play in the World Cup again,” continued Mancini.
The Azzurri will host England in the opening match of the Euro 2024 qualifiers on March 23.
“It will be a tough game and it will be crucial to start well, but we need players who know these sorts of games,” admitted the coach.
Mancini hopes both Leonardo Bonucci and Giacomo Raspadori “will be available” against the Three Lions in a match that which will be played at the Stadio Maradona in Naples: “Hopefully, Napeolitans can help us because right now there is great enthusiasm in town,” he concluded.
The Sampdoria legend also spoke about Nicolò Zaniolo’s transfer to Galatasaray and said he hopes more young Italian players will follow in Wilfried Gnonto’s footsteps, mobing abroad to get more playing time.
Italy have qualified for the Nations League Final Four for the secont time in a row and will face Spain in the semi-finals on June 15.